26 June 2015

I finally started my own website!!! I opened it this past month and I am so thrilled with how it turned out! Since Instagram basically took over and I really started polishing my passion for photography there, I really wanted to move forward and take what I have learned and see where the future takes me.

It all started with this Make It Easy blog... This blog is like my baby that I put so much love into since 2009, almost 7 years ago! I have met so many talented artists and people along the way that I can now called Friends, and I feel so blessed for all the people that have followed my journey and visited this blog and helped craft me into the person I am today. I am so thankful for this blog and where it has taken me, and further more I am so thankful for all the people I have connected with through it, as well as all you kind and friendly readers out there!!

This new website is a fresh start, specifically for my photography and future opportunities. I really hope some great things will happen in my future since I feel I am just getting started in Japan still! ...I know I always say that, even though I have lived here for 1.5 years already, but I really want to take advantage of my experience here more and make sure I am creating and doing good things with my life. I am finally at the source! I have worked so hard to make it here and I can now say I am a resident of Japan! (I paid my first city taxes today actually! That was big for me!) So I really don't want to miss opportunities and waste time... (even though my day job is quite draining, but that's no excuse!)

Anyway, I just wanted to share this new chapter in my life and express my utmost gratitude for my Make It Easy blog that started it all, and also all of YOU. Thank you friends. Thank you strangers. Thank you readers. and Thank you Japan! ♡

03 December 2014

Wow... I can't believe it's already been a year since I moved away from Hawaii and made a new life for myself in Japan! And here I am, back home on vacation for the holidays to enjoy life and love with my family and friends.

Looking back on this journey, I have been and seen sooooo much! I can't believe how time flies! Sitting back in my room in Hawaii, I feel like I haven't even left at all. As if time stopped and I'm picking up where I left off... it's a strange yet comforting feeling.

Anyway, hope all is well and I know I haven't updating this blog in so long. Many apologies! No one probably even reads my blog anymore, haha! But it's still nice to come back to since this is where it all started and I still have such a love for this space. ♡

If you don't already know, you can follow more up to date adventures on my instagram: "iiimono"

18 August 2014

I love this artwork! What a great mix of the beautiful human form in such delicate poses and models, in contrast with the busy Japanese/bohemian print on print. The dull colours also add a calming effect. Earth tones and flesh tones... Beautiful!

It's in the middle of the summer season here in Japan! The sun is scorching and air is humid, but it's not as bad as I thought it would be. It's actually a comfortable reminder of the weather back home in Hawaii. I don't love this heat, but it's far more tolerable than the freezing winters!

03 July 2014

Hello! Wow, this post is long over due! I went to Kyoto back in March, almost 5 months ago! Just goes to show how much I've been neglecting my blog :-(

Well, I went for 3 days and took the lovely Shinkansen all the way to Kyoto for a mini-vacation to meet my good friends Anthony and Jonathan, who were visiting from California! Along the way, I also got to meet the lovely boys behind Japanesesong Trip! David and Koichi turned out to be one of the most loveliest couples I have ever met! I'm also super excited too because they are moving to Tokyo now!

This was my first trip to Kyoto and it really didn't let me down. It's a beautiful city chock-full of temples! I have to say my favourite one was the Fushimi-Inari Shrine (with the red Tori gates). It was just such a magical experience for me, walking through all the gates! Also, there was this one spot with a big pond and all these little altars surrounded by Inari statues... this spot really had an affect on me. Maybe it was because the cold moisture in the air, mixed with the spiritual atmosphere... but it was so incredibly peaceful and calm. I definitely think it was a "power spot."

I also really loved Arashiyama! The place with the bamboo grove. I totally emulated a Lost In Translation vibe here as I walked through this quaint village, constantly listening to Air - "Alone in Kyoto." It was perfect. After spending 3 days there, I feel I've got a real nice grasp of the city, after constantly walking all day through busy streets and visiting temple after temple. Hanging out with great friends and eating healthy local foods was also the cherry on top!

Also, here are some left over shots I took during the Hanami season! As you can see, the parks were packed with picnics and endless amounts of alcohol and laughter. It's such a joyous time of the year which only lasts for about 2 weeks. I was also surprised to experience night-time Hanami! I, personally, couldn't understand the hype over it since I'm such a sunshine loving person, so watching the Cherry Blossoms in the dark was a little anti-climactic for me. Hahahah! But none the less, still a memorable experience!

Other than that, life's been crazy here in Japan! I guess I didn't realize how fast paced the lifestyle was here. Especially being a Hawaii boy, the city does sometimes get to me. Coming to Japan on vacation, and working and living here and two totally different things! It really can get stressful, which gave me some health problems... but not dwelling on that, I still am loving my new life here so much! I'm always still exploring and seeing new things and making new friends! Also, I recently found love, so I've been on cloud nine these past weeks ♡

In May I also went on a very exciting adventure to Yakushima island! This is the place where Princess Mononoke was modeled after! It was such a beautiful experience full of nature and hiking and new friends! I don't think I have ever been so immersed in nature like that.... but I'll do my next post on that!

07 May 2014

This post is well over due! I finally got to see the cherry blossoms for myself in Japan! One of my life goals that I can finally cross off my list. It was more beautiful than I ever imagined... such a spectacle to see, and the fact that it only lasts about 1 week makes it even that much more special!

Since this is my very first experience and I waited many years to see this, I made sure I had proper time to enjoy this beautiful event, so I took 1 whole week off of work just to marvel at these flowers! I did Hanami (cherry blossom viewing) in 7 different parks: Hibiya, Inokashira, Genjiyama (in Kamakura), Nakameguro, Yoyogi, Ueno, and Asukayama park (which was my favourite place out of all the rest!)

I also had the pleasure of enjoying Hanami with some wonderful blog friends! Like Hiki from Jollygoo, Ebony from Hello Sandwich, and the David & Koichi from Japanesesong Trip. It was so fun to meet and hang out with these people. My first cherry blossom experience wouldn't have been the same without them! I also went with many of my coworkers here, so it was definitely something that I will remember forever!

16 April 2014

hello hello!

Just a small and random blog post to prove I'm still alive and care about my blog still. hahah! I have a Kyoto post to do, and also a Cherry blossom post! I can't believe sakura season is already over! It came and went so fast, but was so beautiful... One of my life goals was to see cherry blossoms in Japan and I am so thrilled to cross that off my bucket list!
Pictures to come....

ps: I can't believe it's already been half a year since I moved to Japan!